Can I request plan management at any time, or only at a plan reassessment?

You can request it during your current plan. A plan variation can change how your funding is managed. Speak with your my NDIS contact or call the NDIA on 1800 800 110.

Will adding plan management reduce my other NDIS funding?

Plan management is funded separately by the NDIA under Improved Life Choices (Capacity Building). It does not come out of your other supports. Other funding decisions are separate from the plan management request. Check the amounts recorded in any new or updated plan.

Do I need a specific reason to ask for plan management?

Explain the arrangements you would like and how a plan manager would help you. This could include assistance with invoices, provider payments or financial records. The NDIA will consider your request and tell you if it needs more information.

Is plan management automatically included when I ask?

The NDIA considers your request before deciding how your funding will be managed. It may ask for information or evidence. If you would like the decision explained, speak with your my NDIS contact. If you disagree with a reviewable decision, you can request an internal review.

How do I know if plan management is already in my plan?

Check which support budgets say “This funding is plan managed” and look for the separate plan management funding within Capacity Building. Your my NDIS contact can help confirm these details.

Can I move from NDIA-managed funding to plan management partway through my plan?

You can request this change during your current plan. A plan variation can change how your funding is managed. The NDIA will consider the appropriate process for your request.

NDIS Guide

Updated Oct 2026 • 5 min read

How to Get Plan Management Added to Your NDIS Plan

If you would like help with NDIS invoices, provider payments and budget records, plan management cost you nothing out of pocket when included in your plan.

This guide explains how to get plan management added to your NDIS plan, whether you are preparing for a planning meeting, approaching a plan reassessment or partway through your current plan.

Start by checking your funding arrangements. If you would like to change to plan management, speak with your my NDIS contact about your request.

In this guide

01

What is NDIS plan management

02

Does your current NDIS plan already include plan management?

03

Adding plan management at a new NDIS planning meeting

04

Adding plan management at an NDIS plan reassessment

05

Adding plan management between reassessments

06

What should you say when requesting plan management?

07

How long does it take to add plan management to your NDIS plan?

08

What happens once plan management is added to your NDIS plan?

This is one of the clearest signals that something is not right. You can switch plan managers at any time, without NDIA approval and without affecting your funding. A reasonable notice period in your service agreement (often two to four weeks) is completely normal, it simply allows a clean handover of any outstanding invoices. What is not normal is a plan manager who becomes evasive when you ask about leaving, discourages you from exploring other options, or makes the process sound far more complicated than it is. A confident, trustworthy plan manager will always respect your right to choose. For a step by step, read: How to Switch NDIS Plan Managers.

What is NDIS plan management?

Plan management is a way of managing your NDIS funding where a registered plan manager checks and processes invoices, monitors your budget and submits claims to the NDIA.

You continue choosing your supports and providers. Your plan manager handles the payment administration and gives you regular information about your spending. You remain responsible for using your funding in line with your plan.

Plan management funding sits within your Capacity Building budget and is separate from the funding for your other supports.

You can read more in First2Care's complete guide to NDIS Plan Management?

Does your current NDIS plan already include plan management?

Before making a request, check how your support budgets are managed. Look for "This funding is plan managed" against the budgets you would like a plan manager to manage.

Also check for the separate funding within Capacity Building that pays for a registered plan manager. This funding can only be used for plan management.

If the relevant budgets are already plan-managed and the separate funding is included, you can choose a registered plan manager and complete the steps outlined below.

If you are unsure, reach out to your my NDIS contact or the NDIA and ask them to confirm how your funding is managed.

Adding plan management at a new NDIS planning meeting

If you are preparing for your first NDIS plan, or for a planning meeting after a break from the scheme, this is the simplest time to ask. You request it before the plan is finalised, and the planner includes it from the start.

When you meet with your NDIA planner or Local Area Coordinator, tell them you would like plan management included in your plan. You do not need a formal letter or a detailed justification. A simple request is enough.

For example: "I would like plan management included in my plan so I can choose a plan manager to help manage my funding."

You may be asked whether you have a plan manager in mind. You do not need one yet. It is fine to say you will look at your options once your plan is approved. Once your plan is approved with Improved Life Choices funding, you can contact a plan manager and start straight away.

Adding plan management at an NDIS plan reassessment

You can also ask for plan management during your plan reassessment.

When funding management is discussed, explain the arrangements you would like in your next plan. This may include moving from NDIA-managed or self-managed funding to plan management.

You may want help with:

processing invoices and paying providers
keeping financial records
understanding your spending and available budget

Explain what would be useful for you. The NDIA will consider your request and let you know if it needs further information.

Adding plan management between reassessments

You can request a change during your current plan rather than waiting for your scheduled reassessment.

A plan variation changes part of your plan. It can be used to change how your funding is managed without creating a whole new plan. The NDIA will consider whether a variation is appropriate for your request.

There are four ways to start:

Speak with your my NDIS contact. Explain that you would like to change to plan management.

Contact the NDIA. Call 1800 800 110 to discuss your request.

Ask someone to help. Your plan nominee or child representative can request a variation. Another person, such as a support coordinator, can request it with your consent.

Complete a plan variation request form. The NDIA accepts completed forms and supporting information through its service hub, by post or in person.

The NDIA may ask for information or evidence to support your request. Find the form and current submission instructions in the NDIA's plan variation guidance.

If you are not sure where to start, First2Care can explain exactly what to say. Call us on 1300 322 273.

What should you say when requesting plan management?

Keep your request clear and explain the arrangements you would like.

Here is a suggested starting point:

“I would like my support budgets to be plan-managed, with the separate plan management funding included. I would like to choose a registered plan manager to help with invoices, payments and financial records.”

You can adapt this example to identify the budgets you would like to manage and explain why the arrangements suit you. For example:

“I would like help processing invoices and keeping track of my spending.”

That is all you need. The NDIA will consider your request and tell you if it needs more information.

How long does it take to add plan management to your NDIS plan?

The timeframe depends on how you make the request.

At a planning meeting or plan reassessment.

The NDIA considers your request when preparing your plan. Once you receive it, check the funding and management arrangements before connecting with a plan manager.

Through a plan variation.

The NDIA says it will advise you if its decision within 21 days once it has the information and evidence it needs.

It will let you know if it needs more time, further evidence or a plan reassessment instead. If you're in plan variation, you will receive a copy within 7 days.

If you would like an update on your request, contact the NDIA or your my NDIS contact.

What happens once plan management is added to your NDIS plan?

Once your plan includes the relevant arrangements, there are a few steps to complete. Here's why an independent plan manager matters when you decide.

Choose your plan manager. Choose a plan manager registered with the NDIA Quality and Safeguards Commission. Discuss how they handle invoices, obtain your approval for claims and provide budget reports. You can also ask about fees, access to your plan and any financial or personal relationships they have with other providers.

Make a service agreement. Your plan manager will send you a service agreement to read and sign. At First2Care, we write these in everyday words, and you sign electronically in a few minutes. Our service agreement can be found at: www.first2care.com.au/join-us

Your plan manager is connected to your plan. Your plan manager is recorded as one of your my providers through the NDIA system, which formally links them to your funding. They handle this, so you do not need to contact the NDIA again.

Your account is set up. Within the first week, your plan manager sets up your account, activates your Plan Magic portal, and contacts your providers so they can start submitting invoices.

From the day you sign with First2Care to your first paid invoice is usually one to two weeks. For the full picture, refer to our guide: What Happens After You Sign Up With a Plan Manager?

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting started is closer than you think

If you are thinking about adding plan management to your NDIS plan, First2Care can explain the process simply.

We help you understand what to ask for, how to approach your planning conversation, and what happens once plan management is in your plan.

Join First2Care today →

Contact us now →

Call 1300 322 273

Send your invoices →

Read from First2Care

Illustration of a woman in the foreground catching a handful of coins, with a car in the background, representing provider travel costs under NDIS plan.

Understanding Provider Travel Costs Under Your NDIS Plan

If you receive NDIS supports at home or in the community, you may notice travel charges on your provider's invoices. These charges can sometimes be confusing, especially if you're not sure what they relate to or why they're being charged. This article explains what travel costs are, when they can be charged, and what you may see on your invoices.

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What Happens If My Circumstances Change? NDIS Plan Variation and Reassessments Explained

Your NDIS plan reflects your goals, your support needs, and living situation when it is approved. These can change over time. You might start a new job, move home, begin a course, or experience change in the support available from family, friends or other in your support network. If your NDIS change of circumstances affect the support you need, you may be able to use your current plan differently, request an update to part of it, or ask the NDIA to consider whether you need a

What’s Changing for NDIS Plan Management?: What We Know So Far

The future of NDIS plan management has become one of the most talked-about topics in the disability community lately. Significant reforms have been proposed that could change how plan management services are delivered from October 2027 onwards. The Government has announced plans to introduce a panel of approved plan management providers, selected through a competitive tender process. Understanding the changes proposed so far can help you stay informed and prepare for the futu

First2Care is a registered NDIS plan management provider (ABN: 24 601 046 155), registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This article is for general information only. For advice specific to your plan, please speak with your NDIA planner, Local Area Coordinator, or the First2Care team directly.

How to Get Plan Management Added to Your NDIS Plan

In this guide

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

What is NDIS plan management?

Does your current NDIS plan already include plan management?

Adding plan management at a new NDIS planning meeting

Adding plan management at an NDIS plan reassessment

Adding plan management between reassessments

What should you say when requesting plan management?

How long does it take to add plan management to your NDIS plan?

What happens once plan management is added to your NDIS plan?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request plan management at any time, or only at a plan reassessment?

Will adding plan management reduce my other NDIS funding?

Do I need a specific reason to ask for plan management?

Is plan management automatically included when I ask?

How do I know if plan management is already in my plan?

Can I move from NDIA management to plan management partway through my plan?

Getting started is closer than you think

Understanding Provider Travel Costs Under Your NDIS Plan

What Happens If My Circumstances Change? NDIS Plan Variation and Reassessments Explained

What’s Changing for NDIS Plan Management?: What We Know So Far